The whistleblower Armstrong's US Postal team masseuse, Emma O'Reilly (left)Thesundaytimes.co.uk

The Irish masseuse who was labeled a liar by Lance Armstrong is considering taking legal action against him.

Emma O’Reilly, who worked with the US Postal team, was described as an “alcoholic whore” by Armstrong. O’Reilly had worked with the US Postal Service team from 1996 to 2000 and was one of the key whistleblowers in the case against Armstrong. The disgraced cyclist also took legal action against O’Reilly after she claimed in her 2004 book that he had been involved in doping.

"Sometimes in life you should stand up and be counted and in this day and age women should not be spoken to, and spoken about in the way he did," O'Reilly on Sunday when asked about legal action she might take.

The Dubliner told BBC Radio Five, "But I also feel that one of the options I should examine is just leave this and get on with my life. My gut is telling me a bit of both.''

''I think a bit of compassion should be shown. Maybe give him a chance, let him show true contrition."

The Irish woman said that watching Armstrong admit that he had doped during the 1999 tour, the same claim which she had made in her book “La Confidential,” had an emotional effect on her.

"It was if all the tightness in my chest had a physical release, I felt like for the first time in years I could breathe," she said.